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SEO has long been a moving target. Back in the early days, “success” looked like stuffing keywords into web pages and trying to game the algorithm with backlinks. Then came the era of “Content is King,” user intent and semantic search — ultimately shifting the balance from tricks to value … black hat to white hat.

However, today, a new force is looking to reshape that search landscape: generative AI search.

Tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), as well as my favorite one, Perplexity, are changing how search engines understand, rank and present content.

All of a sudden, traditional SEO tactics aren’t enough. Content isn’t just competing with other websites — rather, it’s up against AI-generated summaries, direct answers and dynamic search results. And really, it’s transforming SEO.

If you’re a marketer, content creator, SEO expert or business owner, you’ve got to understand these changes. It’s the only way you’re going to stay competitive in this brand-new world of search.

Related: How AI Is Transforming the SEO Playbook — and What Businesses Must Do to Ensure Long-Term Relevance and Visibility

SEO before generative AI: The old-school playbook

Before we entered the era of the bots, SEO was all about mastering the basics — and then some. Here’s what it used to look like:

Traditional SEO practices:

• Keyword research and optimization: You focused on exact-match terms and strategically placed them throughout content.

• Backlink building: You would build a network of links to boost domain authority and improve rankings in the SERPs.

• On-page and technical SEO: You placed emphasis on making sure your pages had meta tags, header tags and site structure — all in the name of better indexability.

But despite the structured approach, there were major growing pains. SEO was not always efficient — nor was it scalable.

The challenges:

• Manual content creation: In order to craft high-quality content that ticked all of the SEO boxes, you needed to invest time and resources.

• Scaling personalized content: It’s hard to create content tailored to different audience segments — and impractical when having to do this to scale.

• Data-heavy strategy development: There is little room for flexibility when you also have to analyze data, monitor trends and refine tactics — all slow and cumbersome processes.

But generative AI has flipped the script here, and there are new solutions to old SEO headaches. Let’s take a look at how the times have changed.

Related: 5 Ways to Change SEO Strategies in an AI Search Engine World

AI’s disruptive influence on SEO: From content to search behavior

Generative AI has ushered in a revolution in SEO. According to a survey conducted by Statista in 2023, 13 million people “used generative AI as their primary search tool for online searches.” That figure is only set to skyrocket to 90+ million by 2027 (for the record, that’s a mere two years away).

It’s changing everything from content creation to how search engines rank results. Here’s a breakdown:

Content creation and optimization

• Automated content generation: AI tools have the ability to generate high-quality, SEO-optimized content at scale — adding ease and efficiency.

• Real-time content updates: The bots can adjust content in real time based on user behavior and search trends. This ensures your site stays relevant and up-to-date.

Search engine algorithms adaptation

• Context and intent: AI has the ability to read intuitively, like a human. So, the content behind queries and user intent is more important than matching keywords alone.

• E-E-A-T principles: Search engines are now placing more weight on the Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness of content. And this is an area where AI reigns supreme.

User behavior and search patterns

• AI-driven search assistants: As voice and chat-based AI assistants have become increasingly prevalent, search must adopt a conversational approach — and this influences how content is optimized.

• Personalized search results: Users demand personalized, human-like interactions with search engines. AI, ultimately, can offer targeted results based on the preferences and behaviors of the person.

And statistics are highlighting this shift, too. According to a 2024 report by SEMRush, 65% of businesses report better SEO results due to AI integration, 67% observe boosted content quality through AI, and 68% realize higher content marketing ROI via AI.

At the end of the day, this isn’t some flash-in-the-pan trend. This is an evolution of how SEO works. AI can make processes faster, smarter and savvier than ever before.

There is a double-edged sword

For as groundbreaking as AI has been in the past few years, it’s not all smooth sailing.

One of the biggest hurdles lies in maintaining content authenticity and quality. Sure, AI can churn out content faster than you can say “writer’s block,” but there’s a huge risk of AI-generated “fake news” slipping through the cracks.

That’s why it’s key to make sure a human with a working cerebral cortex is manning the content creation process. Someone has to take the wheel to keep things grounded in relevance and truth.

To make matters murkier, we also have to address the issue of dependence on AI tools. Yes, automation feels easy, but the risk of becoming addicted is real. You must strike a balance between the efficiency of AI and the creativity that only has a home in your head. Don’t be tempted by over-reliance on AI, but it’s like allowing your Tesla to drive you home after a night out because you want to take a nap.

Sometimes, you’ve got to trust your gut and use your brain.

Related: How to Use AI for SEO Wins in 2025

The road ahead

Looking into our crystal ball, let’s state the obvious: Generative AI isn’t going anywhere. And it’s only going to get more powerful.

SEO strategies need to evolve alongside it. The best marketers will be those who become friends with the bots — using the technology to improve content, refine user experiences and stay ahead of the search engines. And know that human creativity will remain at the heart of content. Only a person can bring that unique spark.

For SEO professionals and digital marketers, the future means transitioning from the manual to the automatic, from human strategy executions to human strategies but AI execution. Take advantage of the power and efficiency of AI tools and trends.

Building and running a successful business requires a steady flow of revenue and new customers. This is especially true in the beginning stages of building a business. Without a solid client base, you run the risk of financial trouble or drying up your capital reserves. For this reason, entrepreneurs will often bend over backwards for their clients to make sure they are happy.

Most people assume that having more clients is always better. The reality is that some clients may actually be bad for the well-being of your business. In some cases, you might not even realize that some clients are actually costing you money. Having a roster of bad clients can be a financial drain on your business, cause stress to your team and take time away from other valuable tasks like sales.

While it may seem counterintuitive, it may benefit your business to fire certain clients from time to time. You don’t want to develop a reputation for casting clients aside, so it’s important to take the right, professional approach when firing a client.

Related: 6 Signs It’s Time to Fire a Client

1. Identify bad clients

Sometimes, it’s easy to spot a bad client. Signs of an obvious bad client include those that are abusive to your team, constantly dispute invoices, or create legal issues. However, there are other factors to consider when deciding whether to continue working with certain clients.

• Revenue per client hour: A great place to start is by understanding how much effort you are exhausting with each client compared to the revenue they generate. This can be a good guide to identify where you might be exhausting your resources for little return. Keep in mind that even high-value clients can be bad clients, but this metric should help you quantify if trouble clients are worth the headache. In some cases, the money might be worth the hassle.

• Unclear scope of work: We’ve all worked with a client who always wants to add “one more thing” to a project without adjusting the timeline or budget. This is fine on occasion, but frequent, last-minute changes can be a sign of a bad client.

• Payment issues: Identify which clients tend to make late payments, dispute invoices or attempt to negotiate lower fees after the work is completed.

• Boundary issues and unrealistic demands: Some clients expect high-quality work in an unreasonably short timeframe. Most clients are demanding. Bad clients will get upset when you try to explain that their request isn’t feasible, require 24/7 responses from your tea, or make requests late on a Friday afternoon and expect you to work over the weekend.

• Too much or too little communication: Some clients don’t respond timely, causing major delays in important feedback or approvals. Others want to be too involved and micromanage the entire process. The extreme ends of this spectrum are a red flag when it comes to spotting bad clients.

2. Complete your obligations and decline future work

The best option when firing a client is to finish the task you have promised to complete. This shows that you are willing to honor your commitments and also provides a clear exit for your team. When the client requests additional work, you can simply let them know that you are not able to take additional work from them at this time.

Related: Don’t Let Your Biggest Client Become Your Biggest Nightmare — You Should Fire Them Instead. Here’s Why.

3. Renegotiate your contract

In some cases, you can remedy the situation by updating your contract and renewing expectations. For example, if the client always wants expedited work, you can outline the fees associated with faster delivery so there is no confusion. This approach can help minimize bad behavior like scope creep and payment terms from an otherwise good client.

4. Adjust your fees

Sometimes, simply raising your rates is a great way to deter a bad client, especially if they are sticklers for the budget. However, be cautious with this approach. By raising the rates, the client might expect even more in return. Be clear on what’s included and excluded in the new rate. It’s important to note that some clients may not be bothered by the higher fees, but at least you’ll be compensated for your additional suffering.

Related: 3 Red Flags You Have a Nightmare Client — and How to Cut Ties

5. Simply fire them

This may be a tough message to deliver, but sometimes it’s best to be direct. This option is especially important if they are causing harm to your business, such as being abusive toward your team. To soften the blow, it’s best to offer a referral to another company and provide some sort of notice to give them time to transition their work.

Firing a client is no fun for any business owner, but keeping bad clients around can create a number of financial, legal and operational problems. Most importantly, remain professional throughout the process and try not to burn any bridges. You never know if you might cross paths with this client again, especially if you work in a niche industry.

For business owners, entrepreneurs, and busy professionals, time is your most precious resource. So when a deal comes along that lets you upskill on your own schedule — without breaking your budget — it’s worth a closer look.

Feast your eyes on EDU Unlimited by StackSkills, which is now available for just $19.97 (regularly $600). That’s not a subscription. That’s lifetime access to a robust and ever-expanding library of more than 1,000 courses covering high-impact business and tech topics (and more).

This isn’t your run-of-the-mill online learning bundle. EDU Unlimited was built with professionals in mind — people who want real skills, taught by real experts, that can be applied immediately. From mastering Microsoft Excel and digital marketing tools to building leadership habits and understanding AI, the platform is packed with content designed to help you move your career or business forward. And because new courses are added regularly, it grows with you.

Courses are structured for flexibility and clarity. Lessons are broken into manageable segments, allowing you to knock out a few modules between client calls or dive deep into a subject over the weekend. No pressure, no pacing — just pure, self-guided learning when you’re ready.

And let’s talk ROI. Investing in your own skills (or those of your team) is one of the most effective ways to boost productivity and profitability. For less than the price of a couple of coffees and a sandwich in Midtown, you can gain years’ worth of valuable knowledge with no recurring fees.

This deal is especially attractive for small teams and solo operators who don’t have a big budget for ongoing training but still want access to top-tier resources. It’s scalable, practical, and affordable.

Whether you want to grow your business, explore new technologies, or just feel more confident with the tools of your trade, EDU Unlimited helps you get there faster — and smarter.

Pick up lifetime access to EDU Unlimited by StackSkills for just $19.97 (regularly $600) through April 27.

EDU Unlimited by StackSkills: Lifetime Access – $19.97

Get It Here

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Small businesses can easily spend more than $10,000 per year on technology, a CompTIA study found. Setting up your workstation configuration is pricey but essential to success as an entrepreneur or small-business owner.

But what happens when you have to leave the office to work in the field or even travel abroad for a project? You need a powerful, lightweight laptop that doesn’t double your technology spending to take with you, like this refurbished MacBook Air 13.3″ (2017) for just $199.97 (reg. $999).

Lightweight but not light on power

Even in an older model, MacBook Air’s robust construction outweighs newer laptops of other brands. Just 2.96 lbs heavy and 0.68″ inches at the thickest, this laptop is designed to slip in purses, briefcases, or backpacks.

It packs in a Core i5 1.8GHz Intel processor that is now unavailable in later Apple models. Between that and the 8GB of RAM, you’ll find yourself crunching through projects and navigating seamlessly between programs. Stash whatever files you need on the 128GB SSD storage.

The 13.3″ inch display combines with an Intel HD Graphics 6000 card to render the highest quality images and streamed videos.

Whether in the field all day or staying connected while flying, you’ll have the energy to do it with a battery that supports up to 12 hours of use.

Bottom-line-friendly cost with refurbished equipment

Running your own business means considering the bottom line with every purchase. The less you spend on a laptop, the more you have to reinvest in the business. Grade “A/B” refurbished Apple products are very bottom-line-friendly while still offering a high-quality product. To make this top grade, this MacBook Air must have:

• Only light to standard visible wear with no dents, cracks, or missing parts
• Unscratched screen; potential faint screen burn
• Clean and operational keyboards
• Minimum 70% battery health

Things happen while you’re traveling, including accidentally spilling an entire venti soy latte on your laptop while running for your plane. The perfect thing about this MacBook Air is that it’s affordable enough to replace. Tech troubles are always a hassle, but when you’ve purchased a laptop at 79% off, it doesn’t hurt as bad if you damage or lose it while traveling.

Excellent doesn’t have to mean expensive when you take advantage of this unheard-of price drop on a MacBook Air 13.3″ for just $199.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Companies spend upwards of 18% of their yearly revenue on software, according to data from Statista. If your business or team relies on Microsoft for access to productivity apps, you may be spending about $144 per user (annually) just for access.

What if you could streamline your business’ spending on employee productivity software? That’s possible with Microsoft 365, and no, it’s not the standard plan you’re likely thinking of. By opting for this group plan instead, you can save nearly $45 … and cover the needs of up to six users. Grab this Microsoft 365 one-year subscription for just $99.99 (reg. $129).

Microsoft productivity apps and more

For starters, all users on your Microsoft 365 plan—whether they’re employees, partners, or even your family members—get full access to the following to streamline their workdays:

• Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Microsoft Defender
• OneDrive
• Outlook
• Editor
• Clipchamp
• OneNote
• Publisher (PC only)
• Access (PC only)

Each user can use apps simultaneously and separately on a variety of devices, including PCs, Macs, iPhones, iPads, Android phones and tablets, etc. Apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint also have design, writing, and speaking suggestions.

Along with access to those productivity apps, this subscription comes with a host of additional features designed for entrepreneurs and businesses.

Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant, Copilot, is included with this Microsoft 365 plan. Entrepreneurs and employees alike can use it to automate rote tasks, answer queries, get content and copy assistance/generation, and so much more. In addition, every user on this 365 plan gets 1TB of cloud storage, ensuring all files, photos, emails, videos, and other media can be stored locally and securely.

With your purchase comes Microsoft support, just in case you or your employees run into access issues or have questions.

Save your business money and meet your team’s software needs by grabbing this one-year Microsoft 365 subscription for up to six users, now just $99.99 for a little while longer.

Microsoft 365: 1-Year Subscription (Family/Up to 6 Users)

Only $99.99 at Entrepreneur

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Starting a business is exhilarating. You’re building something from the ground up, shaping your vision and taking control of your destiny. But beyond the glamorized stories of billion-dollar valuations and overnight success, there’s a reality that business school won’t prepare you for — the emotional, mental and strategic demands of entrepreneurship.

The loneliness of leadership

Entrepreneurship can be incredibly isolating. When you’re at the helm, the weight of every decision ultimately rests on your shoulders. Yes, you may have mentors, advisors and even a co-founder, but in the grand scheme of things, no one else carries the full burden quite like you and your co-founder.

The uncertainty never really goes away. Your problems are unique — your peers in traditional jobs may be focused on climbing the corporate ladder while you are busy creating the very blueprint they follow.

Related: 5 Problems Business School Won’t Prepare You For

People management: Your biggest gamble

If you’re lucky, you’ll find a few people who truly believe in your vision. As they grow to understand you and your mission, a new challenge emerges: retaining them. The fear of losing key team members begins to creep in. How do you keep them motivated? How do you ensure they stay for the long haul, especially in an early-stage startup where resources are limited?

Yet, while investing in people is crucial, you can’t afford to build your company solely around individuals. Systems and structures must be in place. The tricky part is finding the balance — ensuring people feel trusted while also implementing processes that ensure sustainability. Sometimes, this shift can be misinterpreted. Team members who once had direct access to you may feel distanced. Others may struggle to evolve at the same pace as you, creating friction.

The sense of urgency that never fades

As a first-time entrepreneur, you’ll constantly battle between executing tasks yourself and delegating them. Even when you have competent people, there’s knowledge you’ve gained from working across different industries that doesn’t always translate easily. This creates a frustrating paradox: You want to move fast, but not everyone around you shares your sense of urgency. The weight of daily operations can keep you from focusing on the bigger picture, forcing you to juggle between thinking low-, mid- and high-level every day.

At the same time, you don’t want to be the reactive, aggressive boss. You want to drive results while maintaining a culture of respect and stability. It’s a delicate balance — pushing for speed while ensuring things run smoothly without burning bridges.

Related: What No One Tells You About Entrepreneurship — 5 Hard Truths

Ensuring at least one thing works

One of the most critical survival tactics? Making sure that at least one of your products or services consistently generates revenue. Trends shift, markets evolve, and external factors can disrupt your plans, but having a solid revenue stream keeps your business afloat, especially if you haven’t raised enough (or any) funding.

And then there’s compliance. In industries like fintech, as you grow, you’ll attract bad actors. The more successful you become, the more you’ll need to invest in security, legal protections and operational resilience — things small businesses don’t usually worry about but can make or break your company as you scale. You’ll find yourself making big-business investments while still operating on a startup budget. It’s like driving a Toyota but equipping it with the infrastructure of a Rolls-Royce, ensuring that when you hit the big leagues, you’re ready.

The barriers you can’t control

Some obstacles aren’t about skill or effort — they’re systemic. You may have the capacity to handle major deals, but potential partners might hesitate because of your age, location or lack of a “native co-founder.” Sometimes, it’s not about what you can do but about how the world perceives you.

Then there are the bad players. Not every company operates with integrity, and you’ll encounter businesses that exist solely to exploit vulnerabilities. Many entrepreneurs learn this the hard way. I got my first lawsuit, before I even had a legal team, from a company attempting to take advantage of some non-obvious contractual loopholes — blame it on trying to be everything for and to the business from the jump.

The unseen toll on your personal life

Entrepreneurship doesn’t just impact you — it affects your family, often in ways you don’t anticipate. You’re no longer as present as you once were, and even when you are, your mind is constantly occupied with work. The emotional and mental load seeps into your personal relationships, testing your ability to balance ambition with presence.

Balancing quality with speed

In a fast-moving world, speed is everything — but not at the expense of quality. You’ll constantly battle between pushing for rapid execution and ensuring that what you build is strong enough to withstand future challenges. This is the tightrope every entrepreneur walks: staying lean, staying ready and staying resilient.

Related: 5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Founding My Own Company

No business school course fully prepares you for these realities. The journey is demanding, and while the rewards can be incredible, the sacrifices are real. But for those who choose this path, the challenge isn’t just about building a business — it’s about becoming the kind of leader who can navigate the chaos, embrace the uncertainty and create something truly lasting.

That’s the side of entrepreneurship no one tells you about. And yet, for those of us who take the leap, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Go, comrades!

There’s a pervasive belief in the startup world that launching a product — particularly one with cutting-edge technology — will catapult your company to immediate success. But after years of working with startups and founding some of my own, I’ve learned that the best way to begin isn’t by jumping straight into a flashy product. Instead, it’s by focusing on the service you provide to people.

Service businesses offer founders a way to get close to customers, understand their pain points and validate ideas before investing significant time and resources into developing a product. And trust me, when you jump straight into building too much, too soon, you run the risk of creating expensive, overcomplicated products that aren’t aligned with the market’s actual needs.

Every successful company I’ve worked with has one thing in common: service is at the core of their business.

Related: 87 Service Business Ideas to Start Today

Why service businesses lay the best foundation

Unless your product functions as an entertainment or social platform, you’re building a service business whether you realize it or not. And service-based businesses have a fundamental advantage: They are typically fast and cheap to launch. Unlike product businesses, especially hardware, which require upfront investment in development, manufacturing and distribution, a service model allows you to leverage existing skills and resources to provide immediate value to customers. This type of flexibility and speed is critical in a startup’s early stages.

When you start with services, you also gain valuable insights into what your customers really need. These insights are often missed by startups that begin by building complex hardware or software products. As a result, founders of service businesses are better positioned to pivot when necessary and ensure they’re solving the right problems.

Many successful software startups began as service companies — before AWS launched publicly, it was an internal service that Amazon developed for itself. Airbnb, Netflix and many others got their start by manually solving problems for customers. Yes, there was always a software component, but these founders were initially focused on gathering data, refining processes and offering custom solutions before turning those services into scalable software products.

Software was the means to automate and scale service functions. They weren’t building for the sake of it.

One of the clients I currently work with at Bread is a home-cooking service where customers can hire a chef to come to their house and cook meals that will last the entire week. They started with manual operations, gradually adding software to streamline their operations as they scaled. By focusing on providing great service first, they’re now able to spend time understanding what their customers want and would use in their app, which gives them more confidence in how they design it.

Related: How I Eliminated the Sales Funnel By Focusing On This One Business Strategy

The lessons I learned from building too much, too soon

I’ve been on the other side of this equation. Early in my career, I fell into the trap of overbuilding a product before the market was ready for it. One of the startups I was involved with was developing an ambitious piece of hardware. It was expensive, overly complex and frankly, a logistical nightmare. We built a product that had more features than customers needed, and in doing so, we underestimated the operational costs and overestimated the product’s appeal.

We ended up ripping out the hardware just a month after launch because it overheated and failed in the field. The product had lasers — yes, lasers — which added unnecessary complications and inflated the cost. Looking back, we could have started with something far simpler, like a camera, and focused on doing user research. That feedback would have informed how we built the physical product and how we scaled from there. Instead, we spent a lot of time and money fixing problems that could have been avoided if we had built less from the start.

The perils of premature scaling

That experience taught me an invaluable lesson: Don’t overbuild. There’s a tendency in startup culture to believe that more is better — more features, more tech, more complexity. But the reality is, the more you build, the more risks you introduce. You risk wasting capital on features that no one asked for, you risk overcomplicating your operations and you risk losing sight of your core mission.

Service businesses avoid many of these pitfalls by allowing founders to stay lean and iterate based on real customer feedback — while getting paid for it. When you deliver services, you get close to the customer. You understand their pain points intimately, and you can adjust your offerings without the massive overhead associated with hardware or product development. Once you’ve nailed down the service, you can begin to introduce software or tools that make delivering that service easier and more scalable.

The key is not to rush the transition from service to product. When you do decide to build, make sure it’s driven by customer needs, not by the excitement of creating something shiny and new. Keep things simple, validate your ideas through the services you provide and only build features that directly solve the problems your customers face.

Related: Avoid the ‘Too Fast, Too Furious’ Approach to Scaling a Startup

Start simple, scale smarter

For aspiring founders, my advice is this: Don’t start by trying to build the next big thing. Start with a service, get close to your customers and learn everything you can about their needs. Avoid the temptation to overbuild your product. A simple, well-executed service business will give you the foundation you need to scale — without burning through your resources or losing sight of your customers.

In the end, every great company begins by understanding and solving real problems. I believe the best way to do that is by starting with services, not products.

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Have you Googled yourself lately? No, seriously — when was the last time you typed your name or your business name into Google and took a good hard look at the results?

If you’re like most small business owners or entrepreneurs, you’re probably too busy running your business to even think about it. But here’s the thing — your online image matters more than you might realize. Potential customers, partners and even employees are turning to Google to form their first impression of your brand. What they find (or don’t find!) could make or break a deal.

Still not convinced? Here’s why protecting your online image should be high on your priority list.

1. First impressions happen online

Your website’s homepage isn’t necessarily the first point of contact customers have with your business anymore — your Google search results are. Whether it’s your website, social media accounts or online reviews, people are judging your business within seconds of seeing those results.

Ask yourself this — do those results reflect the brand image you want to convey? If not, it’s time to take control of the narrative. I created Clout Stat because I felt that so many business owners needed help with their online image. And what I found out was, they needed to fix their search results big-time.

Related: Want to Boost Your Company’s Search Ranking? Try This Google-Recommended Website Structure

2. You can harness the power of reviews

Reviews can be your best asset or your worst enemy. Think about it: If a potential customer searches for your business and the first thing they see is a one-star review, what’s their impression going to be?

Encouraging happy customers to leave reviews, responding to negative feedback constructively and actively monitoring review sites are all essential to managing your online presence.

3. Misinformation or outdated info hurts your business

Ever found an old phone number, a long-closed location or even outdated pricing floating around in your Google search results? Frustrating, right? Well, imagine how your customers feel if they are given the incorrect information.

Incorrect or stale information damages trust and can drive potential customers straight to your competitors. Make it a habit to audit your online presence regularly to ensure all details are up to date. I monitor it daily, and you can, too!

4. Your competitors are watching

Your competitors are likely keeping tabs on what shows up when someone searches your business — because they’re vying for the same customers. If your digital footprint is messy, underwhelming or incomplete, they’ll use that to their advantage. A solid online presence ensures you remain competitive and protect your market share.

5. It builds your credibility

Ever heard of the “Google Test?” Before collaborating with you, potential partners or clients might search for you online. What they find could determine whether they reach out or move on.

Positive articles, glowing reviews, an updated website and active social media accounts all scream “reputable and trustworthy.” On the flip side, broken links, outdated content or a non-existent search presence could hurt your credibility.

6. Your reputation needs to be protected

Think of your online reputation as a living, breathing entity. It needs nurturing, monitoring and protecting. What if someone leaves a baseless negative review? Or worse — what if there’s false information about your business online? Regularly Googling yourself allows you to spot and address potential reputation issues quickly.

7. You gain the local SEO edge

For small business owners, your local audience is everything. If you’re not listed in local directories or missing a Google Business Profile, you’ll lose out on valuable foot traffic and online leads. Googling your business name gives you a snapshot of whether you’re ranking — and whether local customers can find you easily.

8. You can stay ahead of trends

Your Google search results are a reflection of how well you’re keeping up with industry trends. Are your competitors showcasing fresh blog content or regular media coverage? Take it as a cue to step up your own digital marketing game. Google alerts can also keep you updated on relevant industry news and mentions of your brand online.

9. You’ll discover new opportunities

When was the last time you checked out the “People Also Ask” section, or scrolled to the bottom of a Google search results page? These sections often contain related topics, questions and websites that could spark new ideas for content, collaborations or partnerships. Keeping an eye on these sections can help you uncover untapped opportunities for growth.

10. You’ll become a better marketer

Lastly, Googling yourself allows you to assess how well your existing digital marketing efforts are paying off. Are your SEO strategies effective in boosting your search presence? The best way to test that is to check yourself.

Related: How to Keep Eyes on Your Business Even When Google’s Algorithm Changes, According to a Marketing Expert

How to take action today

If this article has you wondering, “Hmm, what do my search results actually look like?” then do yourself a favor and head to Google right now! Type in your name, your business name and even key phrases like “other businesses like mine near me.”

Make a list of what you find — are there areas for improvement? Use tools like Google Alerts or online reputation management platforms to keep an eye on your brand. And most importantly, stay proactive.

Remember, you have the power to control the story Google tells about your business. Protecting your online image isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s an essential part of your success.

Think about Uber, Google and countless individuals building their own sales funnels and business modeling. As the global economy breaks apart, entrepreneurship is the one thing that is going to save us all from crumbling down as a society.

Governments are divided along party lines, many multinational firms prefer short-term gains over long-term innovations and archaic systems face new problems they are ill-equipped to deal with. The truth is we are going to increasingly rely on entrepreneurs — uniquely imaginative, resourceful and flexible, as they will ultimately be our path to survival and recovery.

The disintegration of conventional structures

Economic systems that once seemed unshakable are faltering under unprecedented pressure. Political division has caused the public’s trust in the government to decrease, and there has also been outrage caused by worsening economic inequality. Institutions that were built years back struggle to cope with the dynamic threats posed today. Reliance on these systems and communities is increasingly risky.

However, it is worth noting that entrepreneurs do well in chaos because they are able to spot new opportunities quickly. They think of creating where everyone else sees the condition as a daunting problem or a hindering force. They take calculated risks and lead where imagination and determination are needed most and possibly always come out victorious.

Related: Entrepreneurs Drive the Economy — But Are We Doing Enough to Support Them?

Nudging the economy toward stability: The role played by entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurship involves more than just coming up with a simple business — rather it fuels growth and stability made possible by innovation. A simple example of this is looking at how local economies always tend to rely on small businesses to create jobs and promote the local community. Statistics show that small businesses in America alone account for 44% of the market as a whole, and being decentralized ensures that the economy is capable of withstanding shocks without collapsing.

Entrepreneurs have their own methods of addressing systemic economic problems. For example, numerous clean energy startups are doing their part in combating climate change and building long-term sustainable industries for people to thrive. Similarly, startups in the healthcare and biotech industries are filling the gap for problems others ignore. Economic stability for countries can be achieved because these people step up as entrepreneurs and fill gaps left by existing traditional systems.

A new perspective on individualism

Entrepreneurs have earned the common perception of being business risk-takers however there is more to an entrepreneur than that. They do not fear taking risks but instead, focus on balancing ambition with pragmatism. This is very important as these risks come with a business and must be handled correctly. To them, the fear of the risk associated with waiting for a pre-existing system to work is higher. They understand that challenging the status quo is what brings about profit and a competitive edge for them.

Consider fintech entrepreneurs, for example, those providing innovations that service the unbanked thus expanding the scope and meaning of true financial inclusion. For example, innovations like blockchain technology tremendously help millions, especially in countries where the economy is still developing and traditional financial systems are unable to cater to everyone.

Related: 8 Reasons Why We Need Entrepreneurs Now More Than Ever

Revolutionary entrepreneurs and the corporate giants: An everlasting conflict

For a long time, governments and large organizations have viewed entrepreneurs as competitors. This is an old-school way of thinking; instead, they should disregard the perplexities of the competitive nature associated with entrepreneurs and instead initiate policies that aid in fostering the entrepreneurial spirit. They should provide access to real-world education and a vast array of capital — because, now more than ever, suppressing the drive to innovate is a mistake.

The right way forward is to embrace entrepreneurship. Estonia, for instance, offers an e-residency program that allows innovators across the globe to set up a business in Estonia without actually living there. This program has instigated a strong relationship between entrepreneurship and economic resilience. Allowing entrepreneurs to tap into and try solving problems such as decentralized health care and more importantly, digital identity can prove to be a game changer.

Entrepreneurs as the ultimate problem solvers

Entrepreneurs have forever been problem solvers at heart. They do not just create economic tools for businesses but often look for weaknesses or problems within an existing system and rectify them. This ultimately results in boosting the nation’s wealth and potential to flourish.

In Australia, entrepreneurs have tackled the growing waste crisis by creating innovative solutions that turn landfills into opportunities. Take Joost Bakker, for example, the creator of the Future Food System house, a fully sustainable, zero-waste home in Melbourne. The project not only showcases a circular approach to food, waste and energy but also demonstrates how entrepreneurial ingenuity can address pressing environmental issues while inspiring communities.

By integrating vertical gardens, aquaponics and renewable energy sources, Bakker has proven that sustainable living isn’t just theoretical — it’s actionable. Initiatives like this highlight the transformative power of entrepreneurial thinking and its ability to drive progress toward a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Related: How To Use Entrepreneurial Creativity For Innovation

Takeaway

Entrepreneurship can be the most potent weapon in enabling society to remain economically stable, but its importance should be addressed. To address and tap into the benefits of entrepreneurship, the focus should be shifted towards reform in the education sector aimed to foster an entrepreneurial aptitude, and the structuring of policies that will facilitate and encourage innovation.

Everyone including the government, private entities, alongside society at large, must acknowledge and adjust to this new shift. Making the economy resilient is not a matter of following orders and policy, it’s a revolution that must come from the foundation of the society — through brave individuals who are prepared to take risks and create to revolutionize. The future success of our economies, and society as a whole, will depend on such entrepreneurs sooner rather than later.

While there are many “small business 101” courses online, few capture the nuances and complexity of running a small business from scratch. You might learn the essentials (like how to file for an LLC or how to manage your books) but miss the most critical component: how to master the mindset of a successful business owner.

This is where books make up for where online courses and blogs leave off, diving deep into the psychology of starting a venture of your own, the positioning to attract customers, how to price your services and more.

Here’s some essential reading for any current (or aspiring) small business owner looking to enter entrepreneurship with confidence and focus.

Related: 5 Books That Paved My Path to Entrepreneurial Success

The Go-Giver by Bob Burg

Bob Burg is the bestselling author of many books on business, sales and leadership, such as The Art of Persuasion and Endless Referrals. He has a knack for not only explaining the strategies needed to start and run a successful business but also the psychology behind being a confident entrepreneur.

In The Go-Giver, Bob Burg tells the story of an ambitious “go-getter” named Joe. Joe works tirelessly but seems to only get farther from his goals. With the guidance of a legendary consultant named Pindar, Joe is tasked with shadowing several successful entrepreneurs: a restaurant owner, a CEO, a real estate broker and others. These new mentors teach him that the key to success is to shift his focus from getting to giving by putting other people’s interests first.

This mindset shift leads to unexpected returns — and many valuable lessons for the reader. Through the Five Laws of Stratospheric Success, Burg teaches readers how to find fulfillment by giving more and taking less. As a small business owner, you’ll gain insights on how to provide value to customers, market your services and much more.

Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell

As a small business owner, time is your most valuable resource. Between promoting your products, hiring a team, managing your finances and creating marketing materials, it’s easy to watch the day get away from you. In Buy Back Your Time, author Dan Martell helps entrepreneurs regain control of their time, master their calendars and achieve greater productivity.

Martell shares several strategies for “buying back” time by delegating, outsourcing and automating tasks. This includes the “Buyback Principle” of employing help to manage the more menial tasks of your day-to-day so you’re better able to focus on revenue-generating activities. Buy Back Time also shares practical yet impactful tips for how to avoid burnout, prioritize tasks, generate more sales and scale your business. The result is a better work-life balance, happier employees and a more sustainable business.

Related: I Built a Billion-Dollar Company With the Help of These 19 Business Books

Chillpreneur by Denise Duffield-Thomas

Chillpreneur is the must-read guide for entrepreneurs who want to work smarter, not harder. Author Denise Duffield-Thomas encourages readers to adopt a “chill” approach to business: striving for success without intense effort or stress. She turns “hustle” culture on its head, assuring small business owners that it’s possible to run a financially sustainable business without compromising time (or sanity).

Duffield-Thomas’s take on entrepreneurship is one that’s focused on freedom and abundance rather than restriction and scarcity. As a money mindset coach, she shares an approach for building a business that aligns with your unique personality and skills, as well as financial goals.

In addition to money mindset strategies, the author shares practical tips on how to earn more while working less, master the marketing fundamentals, establish your prices and even overcome awkward money situations. Duffield-Thomas offers a fresh perspective on how to grow a business — not by “grinding” your way to success, but by finding balance and enjoying the journey.

The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber

The E-Myth Revisited is the updated version of Michael E. Gerber’s original book, The E-Myth, recounting what NOT to do as a small business owner. The book tackles many misconceptions about starting a small business.

One such misconception is that technical expertise alone is enough to run a successful company. Gerber explains that many entrepreneurs mistakenly believe that being good at a specific skill — whether it’s baking, plumbing or graphic design — automatically translates into the ability to run a business. He refers to this as the “Entrepreneurial Myth” or “E-Myth.”

The book explains that successful entrepreneurs need to step into both their roles as technicians and leaders/managers. This includes building systems and processes that ultimately result in a more efficient, financially sound business. Furthermore, Gerber provides practical advice on how to work on the business rather than just in it, empowering small business owners to find more fulfillment and economic success.

This updated edition is a great resource for any entrepreneur looking to grow their business without burning out or overloading themselves with technical tasks.

Related: 7 Books to Help You Build a Better Business

Measure What Matters by John Doerr

When it comes to practical matters, Measure What Matters is your guide. This book explores the power of setting tangible goals and establishing your objectives and key results (OKRs) to measure success. In it, author John Doerr provides a step-by-step framework for setting business milestones, measuring results and achieving your financial goals.

Doerr relays how today’s most notable companies — like Google, Bono and the Gates Foundation — have achieved success by “measuring what matters.” In other words, they focus on the activities that are most likely to move them toward their business objectives. The lesson is that small businesses can do the same, clearly defining their goals and measuring results so they can stay focused on what truly matters.

Through real-world examples, Doerr shows how OKRs can help small business owners prioritize tasks, stay agile and achieve scalable growth.